5 tips for dealing with bullying in the workplace. [correctionsone.com, 21/4/2015]

April 22, 2015

Correctional work is hard enough just handling the inmates, so when you find other staff members – or sometimes even administrators – breathing down your neck, what are you supposed to do?

We took to Facebook to ask our readers what tips they have for dealing with bullying in the workplace. Here are some great responses; if you see something missing, feel free to add it in the comments.

Know your agency’s policies: First and foremost, it’s good to know if you’re being disciplined (properly) or if you’re being bullied. If you’ve violated an agency or department policy, that may be a sign that you need to work harder in a certain area. But if the discipline doesn’t align with policy, then something’s up.

Document everything: If you didn’t document it, you didn’t do it. Make sure that you have reports backing up your actions, especially in the case of a use of force or other incendiary incident.

Clashing personalities: You aren’t going to get along with everyone, but there are ways to bridge the gap between differing personalities. There is no quick fix to conflict, but it is possible to eventually work together. Check out these steps.

Ask for help: If it gets to a point where you can no longer work alongside a specific person, go to your supervisor. Ask to not be scheduled with them on the same shift, or within the same area of the facility. However, if you’re requesting to stay away from multiple people, it’s possible that you could be the problem.

Pick your battles: As a new officer, you will be corrected. A lot. Don’t take it personally! Other officers are trying to help you be a better and safer officer so that you all go home at the end of your shift. If you’re being trained to do a procedure right, that isn’t bullying. But if you’re being locked out of the prison while the other officers giggle behind a door, there’s a problem.